The public is invited to discuss the City’s proposed changes to the zoning text and maps in Oakland’s commercial and residential areas at a meeting set for October 13 by city planning staff.On the agenda are changes to the text and zoning maps made since the previous four public meetings, and to address any outstanding issues, before the Planning Commission begins its public hearings on the Citywide Zoning Update in November.

As a session dedicated to a review of the
most effective ways to prepare written
comments on the City’s Draft Environmental
Impact Report (DEIR) for the College
Avenue shopping center development, June’s
Town Hall presentation attracted many
Rockridge residents.

In addition, attendees heard a preview
of Safeway’s new plans for the Rockridge
Shopping Center (RRSC), located at 51st/
Pleasant Valley and Broadway.

The RCPC board heard from Rockridge
Montessori’s owners and architect at its
June meeting. Boardmembers expressed
concern about the inadequacy of the traffic
report, potential impact to bicycle safety,
especially after bike lanes are installed
on Broadway, and the school’s continuing
expansion into a residential-zoned area.
In the end, the board voted to oppose the
application unless the school agreed to a
number of conditions, including several
traffic mitigation measures and a binding
commitment not to seek any further
expansion without prior approval from
the RCPC board.

After a series of public meetings where zoning plans were presented, city staff now believes the city’s proposed zoning revisions are ready to begin the formal approval process. The first step will be a review by the Planning Commission’s Zoning Update Committee. The first hearing, which will cover North Oakland (including Rockridge) and the Oakland Hills, is scheduled for July 14 at 4 p.m. at Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 1 (1st floor). Two items that Rockridge residents may wish to comment on are:

The RCPC board also heard a presentation
from David Zystra of Safeway’s
Property Development Centers division,
who reported that the newest revised plans
for redeveloping the Rockridge Shopping
Center involve a slightly bigger expansion
(130,000 sq. ft. versus 110,000 sq. ft in the
previous proposal). They also include actual
internal streets within the shopping center,
rooftop parking instead of the subterranean
lot previously proposed, and a new threestory
structure on the corner of Pleasant
Valley and Broadway, where the Chase
Bank building is now.